Samba’s Coming Home to Santa Teresa

This Saturday (January 29), the streets of Santa Teresa will explode in a riot of samba sounds, as Bloco das Carmelitas, one of of the most popular of the Rio carnival blocos (street samba parties) begins its lively programme of rehearsals.
Such is the bloco’s popularity that the run-up to carnival 2010 saw Carmelitas forced to hold its rehearsals down the hill in Lapa, after residents complained that the street party action was disturbing the neighborhood’s peace and quiet. The bloco also regularly has to change the time of its pre-advertised parties during carnival itself, to prevent too many revellers turning up.
In a major coup for samba fans (and a blow for party poopers) This year’s rehearsals are to take place in Santa Teresa itself. Saturday’s samba action will start at 4pm (barring any last-minute changes…) at Parque das Ruinas on Rua Murtinho Nobre. Entrance is free, but revelers will be able to buy special Carmelitas t-shirts, with the Carnival 2011 model being launched at the event.
The bloco takes its name from the Carmelite nunnery in the neighborhood, and the approved fancy dress is a makeshift nun’s headdress. If that seems a little bad taste, anything black and white will fit the bill nicely.
Meanwhile, there’s family-friendly party action in nearby Laranjeiras, where the children’s bloco Gigantes da Lira will be marching its musical way around Praça da Rua General Glicério from 11am. While beer and caipirinhas will be fuelling the revellers up in Santa Teresa, much ice-cream is promised, helping to cool the little ones down at this kiddie-centered event.
Picture courtesy of Lucy Bryson

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